Door knob assembly



Aug, L 195@ H. RoBERTs DOOR KNOB ASSEMBLY Filed April 22, .1948

INVENTRI HOWARD RoERTs,

Aug, i, 195% H. ROBERTS DOOR KNOB ASSEMBLY Filed April 22 194E BNVENTORI HQWARD' ROBERTS Patented Aug. 1, 1950 DOOR KNOB ASSEMBLY Howard Roberts, New York, N. .Y., assignor to Waldes Kohinoor, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application April 22, 1948, Serial No. 22,621

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in door knob assemblies.

Conventional door knob assemblies as commonly used in homes and apartments, for example, comprise two knob-like handles, one on either side of the door, which are rigidly connected to each other by means of a spindle extending through a hole in the door frame. The spindle is usually of square cross-section, and each of its ends is accommodated in an axial hole of square section provided in the otherwise solid neck of the knob, the neck being usually a casting. Connection of one knob to one end of the spindle is efiected by threads formed at the corners of the spindle which engage with internal threads in the knob neck, the knob being further secured axially by a transverse set screw. At its opposite end, the spindle is provided with rows of holes, usually four in number, disposed at 90, the holes of said rows being axially spaced and, adapted to receive a coupling pin traversing the neck of the other knob.

A door knob assembly as described has distinct disadvantages. The two ends of the spindle and the castings forming the necks of the opposite door knobs are coupled diflerently and they therefore require separate manufacture. The set screw which is intended to secure one knob to the spindle frequently becomes loose, in which case the knob can rotate freely relative to spindle and without effect on the door lock which is controlled by the latter. Moreover, it sometimes happens that the loosened and protruding set screw causes injury to the hand of the person operating the knob. On the whole, assembly is complicated and insecure.

It is the general object of this invention to overcome the above stated disadvantages of conventional door knob assemblies through the provision of an improved assembly which is characterized by exceedingly simple design, bysecure Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the spindle and one door knob of the improved door knob assembly according to the invention; a

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the door knob and the one end of the spindle on which it is mounted;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 0 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. is a section corresponding to Fig. 3 illustrating a modified form of retaining ring;

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional elevation illustrating a modified form of door knob assembly employing an escutcheon mounted on one side of a door; a

Fig. 6 is a section along line 6-6 of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the door knob and spindle end opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 6 and further utilizing a modified two-part retaining ring;

Fig. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the two-part retaining ring employed in the Figs. 7-8 embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, refer,- ence numeral I 0 indicates one knob or handle of a door knob assembly, the hub shell ll of whichembraces the axially extending tubular neck 12 thereof. The neck is provided with an axially extending bore or hole l3 preferably of square cross-section, into which one end of a spindle [4, also of square cross-section, is, fitted. Spindle It forms the axis of the assembly and is provided at its opposite end with another door knob (not shown).

According to the invention, the spindle I4 is provided adjacent each of its ends with a plurality of axially spaced grooves I5, four being shown, which are adapted to receive a retaining ring l6 disposed in encircling relation about an axial extension ll formed on the neck proper 12 of the knob. As shown, said grooves are formed by notches cut into the corners of the spindle in circular series Consequent to the axial spacing of the grooves l5, the distance between the oppositely arranged door knobs can be adjusted to the thickness of the door on which the door knob assembly is to be mounted.

As the assembly of retaining ring on neck extension and spindle is most conveniently effected following insertion of spindle end into knob opening, the ring is preferably of the type that can be applied crosswise of the spindle and neck extension. That is to say, it is of the so-called open or crescent-type ring, as shown in Figs l 3 and 3, which subtends an are which is only slightly in excess of 180", thus providing a large width gap between its open ends. Preferably, the ring is provided with three inwardly directed protrusions or lugs I9, and 2!, of which the lug I9 depends from the middle part of the ring and the lugs 26, 2| from the ends thereof. To insure spring seating of the inner edges of the lugs against the bottom of any one of the grooves 15, the ring is designed so that the inner edges of the protrusions I9, 29, 2|, in the free or unstressed state of the ring, lie on a circle having diameter which is slightly smaller than that of the bottom of the grooves 55, whereby the ring is slightly stressed when seated in its groove and hence secures itself against the groove with spring tension.

To provide for coupling of retaining ring to neck extension H, the latter is provided with two segmental side slots 22, 23 for the passage of the ring end-lugs 2%, 2i into a groove l5, said slots being spaced from one another, top and bottom, by solid connecting parts 24, 2411 (Fig. 3). The top connecting part 24a is also provided with a slot or recess 25 (Fig. 1) through which the ring middle lug 59 may pass intosaid groove. 1 Referring to Fig. 4, illustrating a somewhat modified retaining ring, such is devoid of the middle lug l8 but has end lugs corresponding to the lugs 2t, 2! of the ring shown in Fig. 3. use of the Fig. l form of ring, the upper slot or recess 25 provided in the neck extension H is unnecessary and therefore is omitted.

To mount a door knob assembly as described, the spindle M is pushed through an opening provided therefor in the door frame, as is usual. Each door knob may now be coupled thereto by slipping the knob on to a projecting end of the spindle until its neck end engages or substantially engages the door frame and so that the side slots 22, 2;"; of the neck extension register with One of the spindle grooves l5, the particular groove depending on the desired axial adjustment of knob relative to spindle. Thereupon, a retaining ring is: is spread crosswise over the neck extension, being positioned so that its end lugs 2B, 2! may enter the side slots 22, 23 thereof. If the retaining ring is of the three-lug type, as shown in Fig. 3, the middle lug iii thereof projects through the neck extension slot 25 as well. When the ring is released, it spring-seats itself in the registering spindle groove, thereby to securely couple knob to spindle and against axial movement relative thereto in either direction. It will be observed that the above described assembly and mounting operations are exceedingly simple as compared to the many operatic-nerd quired to mount the conventional door knob assemblies. Moreover, assembly and re-assembly is readily effected by simple insertion and removal of the retaining ring, which can be performed without difficnlty, using a simple screw driver. v I

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, illustrating a door knob assembly as previously described, with an annular escutcheon as commonly used inprior door knob assemblies, the escutcheon is shown to be fixed to the door frame 3! by any suitable means such as screws As usual, the escutcheon is provided with a central opening or bore adapted to receive the spindle, and its hub end which has flush engagement with the knob neck, as shown, is provided with a counter-bore 33 of diameter and depth to receive and house both the neck extension 34 of the door knob Ill and 4 the retaining ring 35 by which the knob is coupled to the spindle as described. While conforming generally to the retaining ring illustrated in Fig. 4, the retaining ring 35 employed in the Fig. 6 modification may be shaped along its inner periphery to provide edges 38, 39 which are substantially parallel and are spaced from one another a'distance substantially equalling the diameter of the spindle grooves 15. As will be seen from the drawing, the inclusion of the escutcheon 31] in the assembly as described makes for better overall appearance, because the neck extension and the retaining ring are completely covered by the escutcheon hub and thus masked from view. Another advantage of the described assembly is that the retaining ring being encircled by the escutcheon hub is positively locked in place, so that there is not the slightest danger that it may become unseated and slip out of the groove in which it seats.

Referring to Fig. 7, illustrating a modified door knob assembly employing an escutcheon, wherein the neck extension is covered by the escutcheon hub as in Fig. 5 but the ring is confined between the end face 42 of the escutcheon and the end face 43 of the knob neck, rather than being covered by the escutcheon, the retaining ring employed is preferably of a different type than pre viously described, being made in two parts which, upon assembly, complement one another to provide a complete ring annulus and thus overcome any unsightliness due to the large gap between the ends of the prior described retaining rings. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the modified retaining ring consists of two symmetrical ring parts or halves 45, 45a which are provided at their ends with comp'lemental hook-like projections 46, 46a and ll, 41a. Being made of spring steel and thus having the property of spreading radially, the ring parts are assembled by forcing said parts towards one another until the mating hook-like projections aforesaid spread over and thence interlock one with the other. To provide for easy and accurate assembly, the inner edge 48 of the ring part 5 and the corresponding inner edge 48a of the ring part 45a are formed as parallel straight-line edges, being spaced a distance which is substantially the diameter of the spindle grooves l5. Moreover, the ring parts are each provided with an internal protrusion whose edge is in alignment with said parallel edge of the other part, that is to say, the inner edge of protrusion 49 of the ring part 45 is in alignment with the linear inner edge 48a of the ring part 45a and, similarly, the inner edge of protrusion 49a of ring part 45a is in alignment with the linear edge 48 of the ring part 45. Said inner edges 48, 49a and 49, 48a function as guiding edges which facilitate mating of the ring parts, in that they properly locate the ring parts against the bottom edges of the neck side-slots 22, 23 as the ring parts are forced together in crosswise direction.

The two-part ring as described has the advantage that when finally assembled it provides a full circular ring, the outer periphery of which by proper design can extend flush with the adjacent peripheries of the escutcheon hub and knob neck. Such a two-part ring can be simply mated, whereupon the parts positively lock one with the other without danger of the ring parts slipping off or falling out of the grooves in which they seat. Disassembly of the two-part ring as aforesaid may be readily efiected by inserting a small screw driver into gaps 50, 5011 provided hetween the peripheral edges of the mated ring parts.

While the invention has been referred to and described as an improved door knob assembly, it is to be understood that the term door knob is intended to include door handles of any type since the conventional bar-type handle, for example, which has a neck corresponding to the neck 12 of the conventional knob-forin of handle illustrated, may be similarly coupled to a spindle as herein provided.

A many changes can be made in carrying out the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A door knob assembly including a knob having neck with an axial extension and provided with an axial hole of non-circular section, a spindle of corresponding cross-section having an end extending into said hole, the spindle adjacent said end being provided with a 011' cular groove, the neck extension having side slots registering with the groove, a spring metal retaining ring encircling the neck extension and having inwardly directed edge portions extending through the slots and being spring-seated in the groove, and an escntcheon having a hub provided with a spindle bore and a counter-bore for receiving the spindle and the neck extension, respectively.

2. A door knob assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the counter-bore of the escutcheon hub also receives the retaining ring.

3. A door knob assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the retaining ring is defined in part by substantially straight, parallel edge portions which are spaced an amount corresponding to the diameter of the groove bottom.

4. A. door knob assembly including a knob having a neck with an axial extension and being provided with an axial hole of non-circular section, a spindle of corresponding non-circular cross-section having an end extending into said hole, the spindle adjacent said end having a circular groove and the neck extension having side slots in register with the groove, and a spring tal retaining ring encircling the neck extenn and having inner edge portions extending throng the slots into the spindle groove, ring being made of two symmetrical parts wl"- il'iilia'llOCls'. and form a full-circular ring 1. an aid being forced together.

A retaining ring assembly as set forth in claim 4i, wherein said ring parts are formed With substantialiy straight-line, parallel inner edges which are spaced substantially the diameter of the groove.

6. A. retaining ring assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein an escutcheon is disposed on the spindle, said escutcheon including a hub which is provided with a counter-bore for receiving the neck extension, and wherein the retaining ring is confined between the end face of the escutcheon 1 b and the adjacent end face of the neck proper.

HOWARD ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 1,877,798 Briggs et a1 Sept. 20, 1932 1,882,625 Jacobi Oct. 11, 1932 1,887,655 Marple Nov. 15, 1932 

